SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL

Chapter 18

Tina loved waking up with Bette  – she loved the fact that the apartment was silent and she loved that they were alone. These minutes that often turned into hours were ones that she treasured now they were a couple again. Bette was slowly waking up  – Tina had been just watching her for the past 20 minutes and it really wasn’t getting stale yet seeing her lover go from peaceful sleep to semi-conscious to fully awake. After deciding that Bette really was awake and she wasn’t about to close her eyes again and go back to sleep – Tina took Bette’s hand and kissed it.
“Hello “ Tina said
Bette smiled and looked across at the blonde – they were both naked and Bette was instantly thrilled to see Tina’s bare skin and the top half of her breasts with the duvet covering the rest of her
“Hello gorgeous “ Bette said and greeted Tina with a  long and very slow kiss. Tina smiled – that was very promising – very promising indeed.
“Sleep well ? “ Tina asked as a tease
“I slept fine”
“That last orgasm was obviously loaded with sleeping pills because you went out like a light “
Bette kissed Tina again and moved her hand so it was resting on Tina’s thigh
“You calling me a lightweight ?”
“No – just saying “ but Tina was grinning – there was no shame in falling asleep after a lengthy love making session – they had done it loads of times “But it was only half nine”
“Was it ?”
Tina nodded – Bette did have the grace to look slightly embarrassed which made Tina just adore her even more.
“I could give you a load of excuses which are all valid “ Bette replied after a few minutes “Like working nights the night before, like how far I ran when I had a sleep or how much we drank when we met up – but they would be excuses – the truth is you are just a fucking good lover and that’s the effect you have on me – it always was and it always will be “
Tina could listen to that sort of comment all day – she moved closer to the brunette and kissed her “I had a really good first lover who was kind and patient with me when I was scared and she made me feel safe and loved – that makes you a good lover – a good partner “
Tina could be as flattering as Bette – and she felt that Bette needed to hear it. There were times when Tina could see the ghost of the 17 year old in the body of the 23 year old Bette Porter. She knew they were happy together – that was obvious by everything that Bette did and said – but there was a lot still unsaid between them and there would come a time when they did have to talk about what had happened to both of them – and not just silly little stories to make the other one laugh – they were going to have to talk about the black times they had endured and how they had got through them and how they now felt about it all. But for now – Tina was just happy to be in bed with Bette – that had seemed so much like a dream when they had started.
“Happy one month babe “ Bette said
Tina grinned – yes – today was the 1st of the month – they had been a couple for a month – that was something so good
“Happy anniversary “ Tina replied and kissed Bette as she snuggled closer to her.
“Its been a great month” Bette said looking at Tina and smiling
“Its been awesome  – any regrets ?”
“With you ? Not a one – I do wish things were easier with our families “
“Yes – well – we could celebrate a month without Emma paying for a hit on me “
“Or us paying for a hit on her “ Tina pointed out
“True “ Bette sighed “We cannot avoid her forever “
“Why not ? I am getting good at it – nip home when she is at work to have a shower and do some washing – spend the nights we are not together at dad’s – its working and no one has been killed yet”
“All the same “ Bette said “ We are going to have to face her “
“No “ Tina said simply
“Tina – we have to “
“No Bette we do not – its HER problem – not mine and not yours and not ours. I am sick of defending what we have – its not her fucking business. I spend a lot of time when we are not together talking to dad and Pete. Its helping me get things into perspective”
“In what way ?” Bette smiled – she liked that Tina had three parents she trust when Emma was being such an utter pain in the ass.
“That we aren’t doing anything wrong – we met up again and we wanted to see one another. Yes it started because we fancied the ass off one another still but its more than that “ Tina looked at Bette – would she reiterate that it was more than a physical attraction keeping them together?
Bette smiled “ it’s a huge thing – how much we want one another but – you are right – its more than that. If it had just been sex – as wild, animal and utterly mind-blowing the sex is – then we wouldn’t spend as much time together as we do”  She sighed “ We have both had sex only relationships and this relationship that we have – they aren’t the same. I want to please you as much as I want my own pleasure. There are so many ways that you and I aren’t just fuck buddies  – you know that and so do I. At the end of the day that’s all that matters Tina “
“Exactly – so Emma can go fuck herself – which is about all the fun she is probably getting if Kate is as cross with her as dad thinks “
Bette sighed and moved her hand so it was cupping Tina’s breast  – the blonde squirmed – just feeling Bette so close was a turn on. She looked pensive which was not the look that Tina was hoping for with them naked and having an anniversary to celebrate and nothing to do today but stay in bed.
“What’s up ?” Tina knew Bette than to think that pensive was a good thing – they needed to get whatever was bothering Bette out in the open THEN they could do much more positive, physical things.
“You make me so happy Tina “
Tina smiled “ You make me happy – but that’s not why you are looking so chewed up about things “
Bette smiled “ You read me a little too well sometimes “
“Like looking at you at Central Station and KNOWING we were going to end up in bed – it was just a matter of when – not if “
Bette smiled “ That was obvious – especially with you in that blouse – you knew what it would do to me – and it did”
“And your ass in those jeans “
Bette laughed “Okay- we both dressed to make the other one drool and it worked”
“Why do I think there is a but in this conversation “
“Do you mean my butt in those jeans ?”
“No Porter and you know what I mean – please talk to me about what is obviously bothering you babe – please “
“I feel so shitty for how I have treated my parents since I went to college. They worked hard for years to get me a college fund that meant I could go where I wanted and they supported me and they have been fantastic parents and I treated them so badly when we split up – I blamed them and I said so terrible things. Then when I would come home for the holidays I would get drunk and be abusive to dad – god I feel terrible Tina”
“So maybe the time has come for you to make your peace with Melvin. It wasn’t easy for him – you know he was the last to find out about us and that made things hard between them- he was always playing catch up and he did his best  – he would take us out for the afternoon and we’d spend hours in old book shops and looking at records – he was so cool with us. He must have always felt like he was the outsider when our three mom’s got together. I think your dad is such a sweetie “
Bette shook her head “I haven’t treated him very well in the last four years “
“So make your peace with him – go to a game with  him – buy him a beer and a burger. I am sure he just wants to spend time with you – we are only children Bette – that’s not easy at times but it means there is no competition. God the number of people at college who were so clearly still screwed up by some sibling rivalry or wanting to do well because it might make their father love them as much as he loved their brother or sister – did you ever think for one second that your father doesn’t love you ?”
“No “ Bette said “ Which make treating him badly even worse “
“You were hurting – we both were  – we reacted the same in some ways but in other ways I think it just showed that you and I aren’t identical “
“Your dad was always opposed to us going to different colleges “
“Yeah but he was shut up  just like everyone else was – 4 fucking lawyers all shouted down by bloody Hurricane Emma – none of us stood a chance”
“We could have got them to put a contract out on her “
“I think it crossed Pete’s mind – one night – there had been another huge fight between me and mom and I had walked out of the apartment and of course I went to dad’s. He was out but Pete was in and he just opened the door and saw me sobbing my heart out and he brought me inside and hugged me. After the tears had died down a little he said
“I know people – I have defended killers – how about I call in a favour or two”  – it made me laugh which wasn’t easy at the time “
Bette exhaled “Does she have any notion of what trouble she caused ? What trouble she is still causing ?”
“I think that’s unlikely – Bette – sweetheart – make your peace with your dad. “ Tina stroked some stray hairs from Bette’s face and placed a gentle kiss on her lips
“There is some way to go but four years is long enough for all of us to suffer. Lets fix things with your folks and the best way of annoying the old cow is for the two of us to be happy “
Bette smiled slightly uncertainly “You are happy aren’t you ?”
“I am blissfully content – I know its early – a month is fantastic but its just that – I want a month to be just the start”
“There is a way to go “ Bette agreed
“There is – so we face things as and when we have to – I swear to you we are going to make this work babe”